Cam Norrie was Mr Reliable – but his horror run gives Great Britain Davis Cup concerns

In recent times, it seems that British tennis’s dependable player, Cameron Norrie, has lost his grip on success. With a tally of seven defeats in his last eight matches, and 11 losses since Wimbledon, it begs the question: what has caused this sudden decline?

For the past two years, Norrie has consistently been the standout player among Britain’s tennis stars. While not achieving a monumental feat like Emma Raducanu’s US Open victory, Norrie did make waves when he won the Indian Wells title in October 2021.

At that point, Norrie expressed his ambition to become the world’s number one player. However, his ranking has been steadily declining, dropping from number eight a year ago to his current position at number 18.

Earlier in the year, Norrie triumphed over Carlos Alcaraz to secure his fifth ATP title at the Rio Open. Although his performance remained stable during the spring and early summer, things took a turn for the worse during the American hard-court swing, resulting in surprising losses to lower-ranked opponents.

These unexpected defeats combined with the toll of travel and grueling matches can quickly erode confidence, leaving a player struggling on crucial points. The delicate balance between risk and reward becomes skewed, leading to miscalculations and missed opportunities.

Fellow British player Dan Evans experienced a similar slump in form earlier this year but managed to turn things around with a confidence-boosting win in Washington. Now, with Norrie’s recent struggles, Britain’s Davis Cup captain, Leon Smith, faces a difficult decision as they prepare for their quarter-final against Serbia.

Norrie’s lack of confidence was evident during the qualifying event in September, raising doubts about his suitability as the team’s top player. As the Davis Cup captain must adhere to the singles player rankings, Smith may assign Norrie as the sacrificial player against Novak Djokovic, allowing Evans to compete in a potentially crucial singles match.

While Great Britain enters the Davis Cup as underdogs, their prospects could improve if Evans and rising star Jack Draper maintain their current form. However, the path to victory remains challenging, considering the strong Serbian team and Andy Murray’s struggles with confidence.

Despite the challenges, if Great Britain manages to secure a win, it may open up interesting possibilities for Smith. With Evans and Draper in top form, they could emerge as potential contenders alongside the seasoned Murray. The upcoming Davis Cup clash presents an opportunity for Norrie to regain his confidence and prove his worth on the international stage.

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